In Kazakhstan, certain medicines rose in price by more than 60% in January-August 2026 compared to the same period last year. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

These data are contained in the table of the Bureau of National Statistics on the consumer price index. Despite the sharp rise in prices for certain goods and services, overall inflation in August amounted to 0.6%.

Among individual drugs, the cost of activated carbon increased most noticeably. In January-August 2026, its average price was 66.7% higher than in the same period of 2025.

Acetylsalicylic acid rose by 61.3%, paracetamol – by 52.3%. The price increase for No-shpa was 37.6%, for Smecta – 29.8%, for Corvalol – 29.6%. Also rose in price: Omez – by 22.9%, Hilak forte – by 21.2% and Magne B6 – by 20.7%.

Overall, the category of medicines, medical equipment and apparatus in August increased in price by 2.2% compared to July. Over the year, i.e. by August 2025, the increase was 20.8%.

Gas in August became more expensive by 29.5% compared to the previous month. Since the beginning of the year, its cost has increased by 34.9%. The broader category of gas, including different types of fuel, rose by 24% over the month. At the same time, liquefied gas in cylinders added only 0.4%.

The cost of renting comfortable housing in August increased by 4.6%. Compared to December 2025, the increase was 8.6%. Overall, housing services, water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose by 3.5% over the month. Electricity became more expensive by 0.9%, hot water – by 1%, cold water – by 0.5%. The price of central heating did not change.

Overall inflation in August was 0.6%, and since the beginning of 2026 – 6.4%. In annual terms, the indicator reached 9.8%. Paid services rose by 1.2% over the month, non-food products – by 0.8%. Food products in general, on the contrary, fell in price by 0.1%.

Among non-food products, electrical appliances for personal use rose by 4.6%, information and communication equipment – by 3.8%. Glassware, cutlery and household utensils added 2.2%.

In the food segment, meat rose in price by 0.6%, cereals and grain products – by 0.5%, dairy products, cheese and eggs – by 0.3%. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products rose by 2.1%. Fruits and vegetables became cheaper by 3.6%, and the category of purchasing vehicles – by 1.8%. Transport services in general fell in price by 0.6%.